As soon as he ripped up the middle of the field for a 52-yard gain against the first team defense Saturday in Virginia Tech’s first full scrimmage of the preseason, J.C. Coleman was able to breathe a giant sigh of relief.

He shrugged off a fractured right hand, the product of something (he’s not sure what – maybe a blow absorbed from a helmet or a shoulder pad) that took place in Thursday’s practice, and became the highlight of the scrimmage on an afternoon that featured a more fast-paced offensive approach.

“I was definitely waiting for that (big run),” said Coleman, a true freshman who graduated from Oscar Smith High in Chesapeake. “It was like a big monkey off my back.”

Coleman finished the day with four carries for 54 yards. He conceded a blocking miscue when he let a defensive end get past him for a sack, but he didn’t show any negative effects from the hand, which had a light wrap around it.

“I feel like a hand shouldn’t slow anyone down,” said Coleman, who added the hand wasn’t hurting him immediately after the scrimmage, and he doesn’t favor the hand when he carries the ball, takes a handoff or tries to catch a pass.

Coleman was the biggest spark in Tech’s running game, which produced 222 yards on 38 carries, while quarterbacks Logan Thomas, Mark Leal and Trey Gresh all had decent days throwing the ball. Thomas completed 8 of 15 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. Leal’s accuracy – 6 of 16 – left something to be desired, but he still racked up 111 yards and a touchdown. Gresh completed all eight of his pass attempts for 94 yards and a touchdown.

Though Coleman is technically third on the running back depth chart, behind Michael Holmes (three carries for 21 yards in the scrimmage) and Martin Scales (two carries for 11 yards), Coleman is a true freshman who is certain to see playing time this season.

Tech coach Frank Beamer, who said he thought Coleman and Holmes both “ran with a burst” in the scrimmage, will meet Sunday with his coaching staff to further discuss which true freshmen could factor into the team’s plans this fall. The idea is identify those freshmen so they can get more reps in practice leading up to the season.

Some of the true freshmen, other than Coleman, with a good chance to play this season include punter/placekicker Brooks Abbott, wide receiver Joel Caleb, running back Trey Edmunds, free safety Desmond Frye, cornerback Donaldven Manning, cornerback Donovan Riley, wide receiver Joshua Stanford, cornerback Davion Tookes and punter Hunter Windmuller. All of those guys are either already in the two-deep depth chart, or challenging for spots in the two-deep.

Hughes may have turned some heads with his punting. Beamer said he liked what he saw from both Hughes and Windmuller, but Hughes was impressive with three punts for an average of 53.7 yards per attempt (though his longest punt of 62 yards got the benefit of a roll of more than 20 yards). All three of Hughes’ punts, which had decent hang time, came to rest inside the 20-yard line.

While the freshmen punters excelled, the young backup defensive backs weren’t nearly as impressive. Riley, who was working with the No. 2 defense, was burned twice on touchdown passes – a 40-yard completion from Leal, the No. 2 quarterback, to receiver Kevin Asante, and a 37-yard completion from Thomas to receiver Corey Fuller.

“We’re going to have some freshmen...in that 2nd group of secondary guys,” Beamer said. “That’s just going to be a fact.”

Sophomore walk-on cornerback Carl Jackson, who has spent time this preseason playing with the No. 2 defense, surrendered a 37-yard touchdown pass from Gresh, the No. 3 quarterback, to receiver E.L. Smiling.

Tech’s increased speed getting out of the huddle and to the line of scrimmage, plus an abundance of shotgun formations, demonstrated more of what offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring has been talking about this preseason – the Hokies’ desire to spread the field a little more. The pace could also keep defenses on their heels.

“It gives us more plays, and it puts the defense in a bind sometimes-keeps them off-balance,” said Thomas, who added after the scrimmage in an off-topic discussion that he was “shocked” when he saw ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper had him fourth on his “big board” of prospects for next year’s draft.

The backup receivers seemed to take to the pace, as Asante (four catches for 79 yards and a touchdown), Fuller (three catches for 68 and a touchdown) and Smiling (two catches for 46 yards and a touchdown) led the way for the pass-catchers. Of course, they benefited from getting more time on the field with backup receivers D.J. Coles (knee) and Demitri Knowles (neck sprain) both on the sideline.

"I think we need to...kind of dictate the tempo,” Beamer said. “The key there is for us to know exactly what we're doing and maybe create some doubt in the defense.”

While defensive end James Gayle (injuries to both ankles) was among other players that missed the scrimmage, which seriously hampered the kinds of looks Tech’s offensive line got from a defense that was trying out some blitz and stunt packages, left guard David Wang (sprained ankle) was able to fully participate with the first team.

With Tech now 10 practices deep into its slated 23 practices before the season-opener, it’s time to get serious about preparation for the Sept. 1 game against Georgia Tech. Beamer said the coaching staff will begin game-planning for Georgia Tech early this coming week, and the attention in practice will turn to Georgia Tech near the end of the week.

TECH SCRIMMAGE STATS

PASSING

Logan Thomas 8 of 15 passing, 112 yds., 1 TD (sacked once)

Mark Leal 6 of 16, 111 yds., 1 INT, 1 TD (sacked once)

Trey Gresh 8 of 8, 94 yds., 1 TD (sacked three times)

TOTALS 22-39-317-1 INT-3 TD

RUSHING

J.C. Coleman 4 carries, 54 yds. (longest run of day for any player – 52 yds.)